There are currently just four former members of the San Jose Sharks organization remaining in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and they'll collide in the Western Conference Final with a trip to the Stanley Cup Final on the line.
First, the Colorado Avalanche earned a trip to the Conference Final with a series victory over the Minnesota Wild, which took them just five games. The Avalanche have two former members of the Sharks organization in their ranks, both of which are still chasing their first Stanley Cup.
Defenseman Brent Burns spent over a decade in the Bay Area, appearing in 798 games for the Sharks. During that time, he scored 172 goals and 594 points, the fifth most in franchise history. He also had a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2016. Despite a two-decade long career in the NHL, Burns has never lifted the Cup but perhaps he can be the modern-day version of Ray Bourque if Colorado are able to go all the way this season.
Mackenzie Blackwood's hunt for the Stanley Cup has been much shorter. He's in his ninth NHL season, and he's in his first full season as a member of the Avalanche after being traded there by the Sharks last spring.
Blackwood has appeared in just three playoff games for the Avalanche, as Scott Wedgewood has established himself as Jared Bednar's first choice in net.
The Avalanche will be across the ice from the notorious Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas defeated the Anaheim Ducks in six games to advance to the Conference Final, stirring up controversy in the process, which cost their head coach John Tortorella quite a bit of money while also resulting in the organization losing a second round draft pick.
Much like Colorado, the Golden Knights have two former members of the Sharks organization on their roster.
Long-time fan favorite Tomas Hertl requested a trade out of San Jose to chase down a Stanley Cup and now the opportunity to win the grandest trophy in hockey is right in front of him. Age hasn't been kind to the now 32-year-old forward, but he's still been helpful for the Golden Knights.
Like Burns, Hertl spent over a decade in the Bay Area, playing in 712 games for the Sharks. He scored 218 goals, the fifth most in franchise history, and 484 points, the sixth most in franchise history.
Goaltender Adin Hill is also on the Golden Knights roster, but despite being in the first year of a sizeable new contract, he has yet to appear in a game during the postseason as the team has opted to start Carter Hart.
One pair of San Jose Sharks alumni will make a trip to the Stanley Cup Final. Now, it's just a matter of which duo it'll be.
Mike Brown and Kenny Atkinson will coach against each other in the Knicks-Cavaliers series.
Kenny Atkinson is four wins from reaching the NBA Finals for the first time as a head coach.
The man standing in his way has already been there with him.
It was only four years ago that Atkinson and current Knicks head coach Mike Brown — who square off Tuesday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals at Madison Square Garden — were both assistants on Steve Kerr’s staff, winning a ring together during the Golden State Warriors’ most recent championship run.
“We know each other well from our time in Golden State together,” Brown said after Monday’s practice. “He’s a great person and obviously a really good coach.”
Though both coaches spent multiple years at Golden State, the title run was their only season working together, providing only a modicum of insight into each other’s game plans.
“We probably gained more knowledge of how we’re coaching our teams based on the times we played against each other this year more than in the past,” said Brown, who also spent six years as the head coach of the Cavaliers.
Kenny Atkinson and Mike Brown are pictured during a May 2022 playoff game. NBAE via Getty Images
Before the 2022-23 season, Brown left Golden State for Sacramento, where he was named the NBA Coach of the Year after leading the Kings to their first playoff appearance in 18 years.
Atkinson — a Long Island native who spent four years as an assistant with the Knicks — remained at Golden State until last season, when he took over in Cleveland and was named the NBA Coach of the Year after leading the team to 64 wins.
Mike Brown addresses reporters during his May 18 press conference. Charles Wenzelberg
Then, those top-seeded Cavs were upset by the Pacers in the second round, preventing them from getting revenge against the Knicks from their 2023 playoff encounter.
This season, Cleveland often looked like it was still suffering from the hangover of that stunning exit — opening 17-16, before finishing fourth in the conference — but has ultimately demonstrated far more resolve by reaching the conference finals for the first time in eight years.
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“Kenny’s done a phenomenal job,” Brown said. “He’s got those guys playing at a high level. To sit back and watch those guys take both their series to seven games and find the resiliency to win just shows how experienced that team is when it comes to the playoffs. There’s no panic in them, starting with Kenny on down.”
Over in the Western Conference finals, there was another concert conflict. A Carín León concert originally scheduled for Sunday, May 24 at San Antonio's Frost Bank Center was pushed back to Thursday, July 16 because Game 4 between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder set to be played also on Sunday, May 24 took precedence.
Star point guard De’Aaron Fox, a two-time All-Star, has landed on the injury report with a right ankle issue that he has been playing through in recent weeks. Now, his status ahead of Game 1 of the Western Conference finals is in doubt.
The injury even forced him briefly out of San Antonio’s series-clinching Game 6 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the conference semis, though he eventually returned to the floor.
Fox, who has been averaging 18.8 points, 5.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game in the postseason, is an integral part to San Antonio’s operation.
If he’s forced to sit out the game, it would come as a significant blow to San Antonio, which went 4-1 in the regular season against the Thunder.
For one, he’s excellent in the clutch. For another, his speed helps the Spurs get out in transition and can destabilize an opposing defense, especially if it’s not set.
No. In the injury report that published Monday, May 18 at 7:45 p.m. ET, he was officially listed as out. This came after he had been listed as questionable with the right ankle soreness designation in the leadup to tipoff.
Rookie guard Dylan Harper, who has had a tremendous postseason, will start in Fox’s place.
De’Aaron Fox stats
In 72 games this season, Fox averaged 18.6 points, 6.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MAY 04: Carlos Correa #1 of the Houston Astros looks on against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Daikin Park on May 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After fracturing his ankle in batting practice, Carlos Correa does not make his big return, but he’ll be felt in spirit. We’ll have to settle for Christian Vazquez instead.
Today was originally Simeon Woods Richardson’s turn through the rotation, but after a disastrous start to the season, manager Derek Shelton will go with rookie Kendry Rojas on the mound and then “we’ll see” after that, which will likely include some amount of SWR. This rotation slot is likely a placeholder until Taj Bradley makes his return later this week.
Byron Buxton, meanwhile, misses his fourth straight game with a hip issue though he is reportedly “very close” to returning. I would complain about not just putting him the IL to have another bench player, but with Alan Roden, Emmanuel Rodriguez, and Walker Jenkins all hurt and Matt Wallner just demoted, the St. Paul depth is pretty thin for the time being.
Lineups!
Twins
Astros
SP: Kendry Rojas (LHP)
SP: Tatsuya Imai
1. Austin Martin, RF
1. Jeremy Peña, SS
2. Trevor Larnach, LF
2. Isaac Paredes, 3B
3. Ryan Jeffers, C
3. Yordan Alvarez, DH
4. Kody Clemens, 1B
4. Christian Walker, 1B
5. Josh Bell, DH
5. Zach Dezenzo, LF
6. Luke Keaschall, 2B
6. Braden Shewmake, 2B
7. Brooks Lee, SS
7. Brice Matthews, CF
8. Tristan Gray, 3B
8. Cam Smith, RF
9. James Outman, CF
9. Christian Vazquez, C
Edit: sorry for the late thread everyone! Got my timezones mixed up.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 17: Dylan Crews #3 of the Washington Nationals runs the bases against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park on September 17, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was a shock when Dylan Crews was demoted at the end of Spring Training, but we knew he would be back. Just over a month and a half into the season, Dylan Crews is back and has a huge opportunity to prove himself. Crews got off to a shaky start in AAA but has been rounding into form lately.
The Nationals are expected to recall Dylan Crews from Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday, according to a source familiar with the decision.https://t.co/Cs3uNcFsCp
This is obviously a big moment in Crews’ career. The former second overall pick’s career has not gone according to plan so far. He has a .634 career OPS in 412 MLB at bats. When Crews was at LSU, he was seen as one of the safest draft prospects in some time. His combination of athleticism, hitting ability and power was rare.
However, that hit tool has not translated as expected. He still has fantastic tools elsewhere though. Even last season we saw some of Crews’ power and athleticism. He is a good fielder and a great base runner. The bat has lagged behind so far though.
In AAA, Crews has done what he did in previous spots at that level. He has put up good, but not great numbers. Crews has a .258 average and .777 OPS in the minors this season. However, he has really been punishing baseballs in May. His exit velocities are sky high and his strikeout rate has been going down.
Dylan Crews in May: .370 wOBA (.423 xwOBA) 98th percentile average exit velocity 98th percentile barrel rate 58th percentile Z-Contact rate Strikeout rate down 7% from April
I am not sure if this will actually be Dylan Crews’ last chance, but it is certainly one of his last shots to prove himself in DC. If he is going to be anything close to the player that was expected, he is going to have to start performing now. There are flashes of that outstanding talent, but it has not been consistent enough.
Crews’ pro career really has been an enigma. When you watch him play, he looks the part and exudes confidence. His energy and passion for the game can also be contagious at times. None of that matters much when you cannot hit though.
That is going to be the big question with Crews. Can he hit enough to make it work? He hits the ball as hard as anyone, but that has not translated into success yet. Crews has whiffed too much and hit too many ground balls.
Dylan Crews first 5 weeks of the season versus his last 2 weeks? What do you notice? pic.twitter.com/VOQW1XAZ9b
Improving those two things have been key points of emphasis for him in Rochester. It is not perfect yet, but we are seeing signs of promise. During Spring Training, Crews looked completely broken and the Nats have been trying to rebuild his swing.
We have seen some real strides from him this month. In May, he is hitting .291 with an .866 OPS. However, tomorrow is when the real challenge begins for Dylan Crews. He will be back in the majors and facing Mets ace Nolan McLean assuming he is in the lineup. It is time to see what Dylan Crews has got and if he is still a part of the Nats plans going forward.
Zach Thornton will be that roster addition on Wednesday, when he is scheduled for his major league debut, either as the starting pitcher or in a bulk relief role, according to manager Carlos Mendoza.
Thornton, a 24-year-old lefty, has pitched to a 3.16 ERA in seven minor league starts this season.
He last pitched on Friday, throwing six shutout innings for Triple-A Syracuse.
Holmes led the Mets rotation with a 2.39 ERA over nine starts this season.
Zach Thornton throws a pitch during a March 9 spring training game for the Mets. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Several options were considered for Holmes’ spot — Jack Wenninger and Jonah Tong were other possibilities at Syracuse, along with Tobias Myers and Sean Manaea, both of whom have been working in long relief.
“[Thornton] earned it by the way he’s been throwing the ball, especially at the Triple-A level,” Mendoza said before the Mets opened a four-game series against the Nationals. “We like, as a lefty against this lineup, his ability to throw strikes, his pitchability. There were a lot of names, but we decided to go with Zach.”
But it’s not a given that Thornton will receive an extended run with the team, according to Mendoza, as bullpen needs might arise after his Wednesday appearance that force a roster move.
Thornton, a fifth-round selection in the 2023 draft, had two strong starts for the Mets in spring training, will need to be added to the 40-man roster.
Organizational officials are high on Thornton for his fearlessness in attacking hitters and his makeup.
“He’s unfazed, whether he struck out the side or gave up a couple of doubles and a homer,” a Mets evaluator said. “I think that is a big separator for him — his resiliency. I think the New York fans will embrace this type of personality. He just gets after it and is really impressive. He’s been outstanding this year.”
Clay Holmes gets pulled from his May 15 start for the Mets. AP Photo
Thornton throws a low 90s fastball as part of an arsenal that also includes a cutter, slider, changeup, sweeper, curveball and two-seam fastball.
He’s considered to have one of the most complete repertoires in the Mets system.
“He came up and made a couple of starts for us [in spring training], and that’s kind of what we were getting from player development: a guy that is going to move the ball around. He’s going to throw strikes and he’s going to continue to do that, so he’s going to get that opportunity.”
Tong has pitched to a 5.68 ERA in nine starts for Syracuse, but organizational officials remain encouraged by other factors, including his 55 strikeouts in 38 innings.
Zach Thornton throws a pitch during his spring training appearance for the Mets on March 9. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
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Tong pitched for the Mets last season, posting a 7.71 ERA in five starts.
Wenninger has pitched to a 1.51 ERA in eight starts for Syracuse, but his 22 walks in 35 ²/₃ innings are somewhat of a concern.
Myers has filled various roles for the Mets, but moving him into the rotation would potentially weaken the bullpen.
Myers has opened, closed, and worked in long relief for the Mets this season.
Manaea has mostly struggled in a long relief.
He owns a 6.26 ERA following his four-inning stint against the Yankees on Sunday, during which he surrendered two earned runs.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - FEBRUARY 4: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs boxes out during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 4, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much. The rule against trolling also applies to members of this site that visit other fan sites, especially sites of the opposing team. Be polite and don’t insult your hosts.
Except for a few minutes during Game 4 of the conference semifinals, this matchup felt inevitable. The defending champs vs the young upstarts who are bursting into contention a few years ahead of schedule. The consensus earlier this season is that the Spurs weren’t ready to take the mantle, but with a 4-1 advantage in the regular season over OKC and an impressive run in the first two rounds over tough opponents, the Silver and Black aren’t looking to wait their turn. They’re ready now, and even though they’re nowhere near their peak yet, they are not waiting. Tonight they’re in Oklahoma City and looking to prove that they belong, by taking home court advantage from the team with the best record in the league with a victory against an experienced team in a hostile arena.
The Thunder are well rested, having hardly broken a sweat in the first two rounds of the playoffs, sweeping the Suns and the short-handed Lakers. They have had time to prepare for Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, and De’Aaron Fox, but they’ll get tested tonight. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has just one the league’s MVP award, and he’s up against the player who got the third most votes tonight. Can Victor prove the MVP voters wrong? Let’s watch and find out. LETS GO SPURS!
Game Prediction:
Reggie Miller tries really hard during the broadcast to pronounce Victor Wembanyama’s name correctly, but fails repeatedly. Eventually, he just reverts to calling him Victor, or ‘that tall guy on the Spurs.’
San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma Thunder, Conference Championship Round, Game 1 May 18, 2026 | 7:30 PM CT Streaming: Peacock TV: NBC Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 10: The Dallas Mavericks receive the ninth pick during the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery on May 10, 2026 at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
1200 comments! You fellas and ladies love to talk and I love that for you. Here’s the last MMB Lounge in case you need to carry over arguments. I have also decided to do these for each round of the playoffs but you knew that by now.
My brain is very draft-focused right now and I am having a hard time NOT thinking about Mikel Brown Jr. I am so damn mad at the Mavs for boofing the tank at the very end. They aren’t going to be in a position to draft him unless things get really weird.
If you haven’t checked out our draft stuff, you know where to look. Remember to be nice and let me know if things get out of hand.
MIAMI (AP) — The Atlanta Braves activated Ronald Acuña Jr. from the 10-day injured list ahead of Monday’s series opener against the Miami Marlins, clearing the way for the right fielder to return after being sidelined since May 2 with a strained left hamstring.
Manager Walt Weiss was noncommittal on whether Acuña would play during Atlanta’s four-game series against the Marlins, saying the turf at Miami’s loanDepot Park would be a factor.
“The turf is a little bit tougher on soft tissue,” Weiss said before Monday’s game. “Hamstrings, quads, groins — that type of thing. It’s a factor. It’s not the factor, but it’s part of the equation when you’re talking about activating somebody.”
Mike Yastrzemski was the right fielder for Monday’s game.
Acuña left in the second inning against the Rockies on May 2 with hamstring tightness before an MRI revealed the strain. He was attempting to run out a ground ball before he pulled up about halfway down the base path and grabbed at his hamstring.
The five-time All-Star and 2023 National League MVP is batting .252 with two homers, nine RBIs, 17 runs and a team-high seven steals. He had played in the first 34 games this year after a torn ACL he suffered in May 2024 limited him to a combined 144 games over the past two seasons.
The major league-best Braves beat Boston 8-1 on Sunday, taking two of three from the Red Sox for their 13th win in 15 series. They have only one series loss, along with the split of a four-game set.
Atlanta also placed infielder Kyle Farmer on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to May 16, with a strained right forearm.
Dinger #15 was the best of them all. | (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
We are now in the second half of May, and the White Sox are two games better than .500. No, you did not read that wrong. No, you are not dreaming. This is real life.
The South Siders have been on a journey to .500 the last few weeks, and they finally accomplished the goal on Wednesday. This is the first time since 2022 that they have been even this late in the season.
But why stop there? The White Sox had the same thought, and with a complete of the sweep on Thursday of the Kansas City Royals took their winning percentage past .500.
Which brings us to the weekend and the Crosstown Classic, where there were not high expectations for this young core. Instead, the Good Guys came out of the weekend with a series win against a North Side team that has already strung together two 10-game winning streaks and are atop the NL Central. Wherever the expectations for the season may have been, this was a tone-setter: The 2026 White Sox can compete.
How are they competing? Stellar defense. Solid pitching. A lot of home runs. This week alone, 11 different White Sox hit a total of 15 long balls:
#1 Drew Romo hit his fourth homer of the season in the bottom of the fifth inning during the Kansas City opener on Tuesday.
#3 Derek Hill hit a go-ahead home run in the bottom of the eighth inning of Tuesday’s series opener against the Royals. This lifted the White Sox to a 6-5 win.
#4 Colson Montgomery ripped a ball to right field in the bottom of the seventh in Wednesday’s game. His solo shot was the winning RBI in another 6-5 win.
#5 Randal Grichuk got the party going in the bottom of the first inning on Thursday with a two-run shot. Four more runs scored during the White Sox’s path to a 6-2 victory, but none were as fun as a home run.
#8 Jarred Kelenic felt left out of the long-ball fun and hit an inconsequential home run in the bottom of the ninth inning of Friday’s loss to the Cubs. Instead of losing by six, the Pale Hose lost by a nickel.
#10 Munetaka Murakami broke his week-long home run drought with a solo shot just over the glove of Pete Crow-Armstrong to put the Good Guys up, 4-0, on Saturday.
#12 Murakami recorded his first multihomer game in the majors. His second dinger on Saturday came off the bat at 109 mph and scored Sam Antonacci to make it 7-0.
#14 Tristan Peters hit his first career home run in the bottom of the eighth inning in yesterday’s series finale against the Cubs. It broke the 4-4 tie and put the South Siders in a position to win the ballgame and the series.
It is not just Murakami who has power. The whole team is showing up for the big moments on offense. Also showing up on defense are these three outfielders, and their highlight-reel catches:
If you have made it past all of the videos, you now get to read about the not-so-great pitching performances of the week.
First and foremost, Davis Martin can do no wrong. He started Saturday’s game after the bullpen imploded on Friday night and absolutely shut down the Cubs offense. The ace went six innings, giving up just one earned run, walking no one, and striking out seven. His 1.61 ERA ranks him third in MLB just behind Tampa’s Nick Martinez (1.51) and Cam Schlittler (1.35) of the Yankees.
Overall, the pitching staff did not perform this week. They had a team ERA of 5.07, recorded six wild pitches, averaged just shy of 4.5 BB/9, and gave up seven home runs. In total, there were five save opportunities presented to White Sox pitchers this week, and only three of those were converted to saves.
There are going to be weeks when you do not hit 15 home runs over six games. Those are the weeks that pitching is going to have to come through. If Zach Bove and his pitching staff cannot get themselves under control (beyond Martin), the upcoming West Coast trip against Seattle and San Francisco is going to be a lot less fun than this nine-game homestand was.
For now, we will bask in the glory that is beating the Chicago Cubs.
May 15, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) talks with Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) after game six of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images | Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
Here are the NBA playoff games for Monday, May 18, 2026. We’ll have the Western Conference Finals!
San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder — 8:30 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock)
In addition, the Washington Mystics play the Dallas Wings at 8 p.m. ET tonight on Monumental Sports Network.
DENVER, CO - APRIL 8: Jeremy Pena #3 of the Houston Astros bats in the third inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on April 8, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Houston Astros (19-29) visit Target Field in Minneapolis today to begin a 3-game series vs. the Minnesota Twins (21-26).
RHP Tatsuya Imai (1-1, 9.24 ERA) will start vs. the Astros as he takes on Twins LHP Kendry Morales (1-0, 2.45 ERA). Both starters are facing their respective opponents for the first time.
ROADIES: Tonight is the 1st game of a 10-game, 3-city road trip for the Astros. After this 3-game set at MIN, they will visit Chicago for a 3-game series at Wrigley Field (Fri.-Sun.) vs. the Cubs and then travel back to Texas for a 4-game series vs. the Rangers at Globe Life Field.
VS. THE TWINS: The Astros were 5-1 vs. MIN last season, going 3-0 at home and 2-1 here at Target Field. The Astros won 2 of 3 in their last visit to Target Field, April 3-6 of 2025 and then later swept MIN in a 3-game series at Daikin Park, June 13-15.
Since 2021, the Astros are 9-5 at Target Field and 18-13 vs. MIN overall.
ABOUT IMAI: RHP Tatsuya Imai will make his fifth start tonight and the first of his career vs. the Twins. On Tues. vs. SEA, he made his 1st start after being out for 26 games while on the Injured List due to arm fatique (4 IP, 6 ER).
In January, the Astros signed Imai to a three-year deal. In 2025, he was an All-Star for the Seibu Lions in the NPB in Japan, where he went 10-5 with a 1.92 ERA (35ER/163.2IP) in 24 games.
ROSTER MOVES: The Astros have placed IF Jose Altuve on the 10-day IL due to a left oblique strain (retro 5/17).
The Astros also reinstated IF Jeremy Peña from 10-day IL and recalled RHP Jason Alexander from Triple A Sugar Land.
To make room on the active roster, the Astros designated RHP Cody Bolton for assignment.
ROAD WARRIOR: In his young career, Brice Matthews has had success hitting on the road, as he enters tonight with a .280 (21×75) career avg. in 24 road games with 6 HR and 20 RBI with a .587 SLG and a .947 OPS.
In 2026, he is hitting .294 (15×51) on the road with 2 HR and an .883 OPS.
BRYAN’S SONG: After a slow start to his season, RHP Bryan Abreu has not allowed a run in his last 5 outings, covering 5.2 IP (3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 SO). In his last 7 appearances, Abreu has posted a 1.23 ERA (1ER/7.2IP) with 9 K’s.
AIR YORDAN: Yordan Alvarez is batting .316 with 11 doubles, 15 HR, 31 RBI and a 1.061 OPS (.423 OBP/.638 SLG).
In the AL, he ranks first in total bases (111), first in XBH (26), 2nd in OBP, and SLG, and 3rd in batting avg….
Alvarez was named AL Player of the Month for March/April.
Twin-Killing: In 27 career games vs. MIN, Alvarez has 9 HR and 22 RBI while posting a .577 SLG/.913 OPS. In 14 career games at Target Field, he has 5 HR and 14 RBI.
THE SHEW FITS: IF Braden Shewmake, who has seen steady playing time recently, has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games and is hitting .333 overall in 17 games this season with 3 HR while posting an .896 OPS.
Shewmake had a career high 10-game hitting streak from May 5-15.
He was acquired by the Astros in a trade with the Yankees on April 19.
WALKER, TEXAS HAMMER: 1B Christian Walker is batting .263 (45×171) with 27 runs, 10 doubles, 11 HR, 30 RBI and a .857 OPS.
Among all AL players in 2026, Walker ranks tied for sixth in extra-base hits (21), tied for seventh in RBI (30), eighth in total bases (88), eighth in SLG (.515) and tied for ninth in home runs (11).
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 2015 – RHP Lance McCullers Jr. makes his Major League debut in a start at home vs. OAK. He allows just 1 run in 4.2 IP with 5 strikeouts. He earns his 1st career punchout for the final out of the 1st inning (Billy Butler).
2002 – Jose Vizcaino walks off the Pirates with a solo HR in the 9th inning, lifting the Astros to a 2-1 win.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Monday, May 18, 6:40 p.m. CT
Location: Target Field, Minneapolis, MN
TV: Space City Home Network
Streaming: SCHN+
Radio: KTRH 740 AM, KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, from left, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, US President Donald Trump, and First Lady Melania Trump during an arrival ceremony outside the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Monday, April 13, 2026. President Trump is hosting the King and Queen of the Netherlands for a dinner at the White House. Photographer: Salwan Georges/Bloomberg via Getty Images | Bloomberg via Getty Images
Whenever we feel down, we will always have the Rockies to feel better again, right?
Wesley: I’m writing this Sunday morning after tough luck loss to the Rockies on Saturday, so not always! The Angels have it much worse. Still, nice to see Merril Kelly and the D’Backs offense turning it around for a game in Coors.
Spencer: Rockies. Giants. Marlins. There are plenty of teams regularly worse than the Diamondbacks. I wouldn’t mind having a few years in a row where we aren’t that for about a third of the league though….
Preston: That’s certainly true now, but it hasn’t always been true and nothing is guaranteed. Once upon a time, the Diamondbacks set or tied a record for most series wins to open a season (in integrated baseball; the 1907 Cubs have the overall record) and watched the Rockies participate in the postseason.
But it’s good to not be the worst. That’s where we were four years ago.
Also, Merrill Kelly is one of the best pitchers at Coors Field in history. Among pitchers to make 10 starts at the park, Kelly has the best WHIP, the third-best ERA, and the only pitchers with better winning percentages are Brad Penny, Greg Maddux, and Zack Greinke. (Maddux and Randy Johnson pitched there pre-humidor, so they’d certainly have better overall numbers if they got to pitch under the same circumstances as Kelly, but still.)
Makakilo: In the last two seasons, at Coors Field the D-backs vs Rockies record was 7 wins and 7 losses, while at Chase, the record was 9 wins and 4 losses. If the Diamondbacks can sweep this series at Coors [they did not], then I feel very optimistic about their next series against the Rockies at Chase.
Dano: I’m writing this after recapping the Saturday game, and, well, maybe. I mean, yeah, the Rockies have not been a consistently good team in a long time, and in recent memory they have been hilariously bad (cf. this time last year), but it’s very hard, I think, for any team to sweep the Rockies at Coors Field. That said, if playing three games against a weak team in a physical environment where offense tends to happen in copious quantities, this might be good for getting our bats back on track. That said, if we can’t get the offense back on track at Coors, I for one will feel like utter crap at the end of tomorrow.
Ben: They have been notoriously badly managed for most of my conscious memory so absolutely in that regard. But given how disappointingly the D-Backs have played them in recent years, and how much that play has cost the team for playoff contention, it’s hard to look down too much on them. There are plenty of other teams that we can look down on right now – here’s looking at you Mets – and really makes me appreciate the privilege of these good times.
James: I enjoy playing the Rockies, just because it is nice to go into a series as a clear favourite. That said, being in such a position can make losses like the one on Saturday hurt all the more.
Before the series against the Rockies, the Diamondbacks had the second worst offence in the MLB in the two weeks before, just narrowly beating out the Padres. Do you think that our hitting lineup is really that bad, compared to the rest of the teams, or will we be “just fine”, as Lovullo said?
Wesley: I think the core of Marte, Carroll, and Perdomo will be fine and heat up as the season progresses. I do think the offense has been that bad though, and I’m still advocating for a roster shakeup. Adrian Del Castillo’s offense is unacceptable for a designated hitter, and I think Tommy Troy, LuJames Groover, or Kristian Robinson are capable of a higher offensive output, if given a chance at regular playing time.
Spencer: I lean more toward agreement with Lovullo. As with most things, results matter more than hypotheticals, but the odds of Marte, Carroll, and Perdomo all having career worst years while still blistering the ball off the bat are about the same as Jose Fernandez winning Rookie of the Year. Possible sure. But incredibly unlikely.
My personal opinion is that we’ve been both unlucky and up against defenses that optimized their locations to prevent getting bullied by our elite offense. Ideally this Colorado trip will give our guys confidence and that translates into more luck. Too much Copium? Meh, it’s May. If you don’t have Copium as a Diamondbacks fan in May, who even are you?
Preston: Some Diamondbacks have certainly been unlucky at the plate. However, there comes a time when–if everyone is unlucky–one must begin to question if it is a systemic issue. But I will say that it only feels like everyone is being unlucky. In fact, it’s pretty much just Marte who is unlucky. Perdomo is actually being lucky, according to his expected stats with quality of contact. Still, his walks give him a solid floor. Vargas is being quite lucky according to all of his expected stats. Arenado is being lucky.
The Diamondbacks do have an Adrian Del Castillo sized problem, though. Not only are his numbers bad, but his expected numbers are exactly in line with the real numbers. He’s in the fourth percentile by xwOBA. That’s acceptable for a stellar defensive catcher. That’s nowhere near acceptable territory for a DH, and he’s consistently been hitting fourth or fifth in the order. But there aren’t many alternatives. Where is Carlos Santana? According to the Aces, he was returned from his rehab assignment on May 12th. Pavin Smith is a ways away. How long before they have to reach down for Danny Serretti or Manuel Pena or Ben McLaughlin because ADC has just been that bad?
Wesley: Just to chime in briefly, Santana reinjured his adductor muscle last Sunday. Serretti has been tearing up both the Texas and Pacific Coast league, so him getting a shot isn’t too crazy. Aside from the names Preston and I have already mentioned, why not Tyler Locklear? He’s healthy, hitting decently well after coming off the IL, and unlike every other minor leaguer mentioned, he’s already on the 40 man roster.
Makakilo: I’m currently writing an article with insights about the recent Diamondbacks offense. I am very excited about what I found! It will be posted Tuesday.
Dano: I suspect the truth lies somewhere in between, as it usually does when considering diametrically opposed hot takes. To some extent, I think it’s probably just one of those weird relatively-small-sample-size blips on the radar. On the other hand, though, the fact that everyone in the lineup seems to be making a habit right now of flailing away at the first three pitches and allowing opposing starters to go deep into games suggests an underlying process (or coaching) problem to me. Though we lost today, a number of our key players had many more long and patient at bats than I recall seeing in awhile, so maybe that’s a good sign that the blip is just that. Dunno. We shall see.
Ben: I think it’s probably a little of column A and a little of column B. There are several players who have not hit well but have a long enough track record of success that I believe they’ll turn it around – like Marte, Carroll, and Perdomo. But there are too many offensive holes that are getting regular at-bats right now. That core is not enough to overcome the combined struggles of Gurriel, Barrosa, and Del Castillo. The fact that there are just three players in the lineup with an OPS+ above 100 is pretty bleak.
James: When the lineup regularly features ADC, Tawa, Barrosa, and McCann, you are already behind the eight ball. Throw in Marte, Perdomo, and Carroll all experiencing varying problems at the plate from slightly off to abysmal, and that makes things even tougher. Yet, somehow, they are still managing to tread water in the standings. The longer they can do that, the better their chances of making a strong push when the underperformers get their ships righted. I agree with some of the others though that this is the summer to start getting good looks at the likes of Troy, Groover, Robinson, and Locklear (among others). By the time the next season reaches opening day, the team should have a very good idea of what they have in each of those players.
Those 9 successful saves make Paul Sewald a top 10 closer in the MLB. It could be worse, just look at Kenley Jansen, Emilio Pagan, Devin Williams… Is fan disappointment justified and are we better off with a different closer?
Wesley: It could be worse, but the disappointment is justified, and the Dbacks would be best off if they began looking at other options until Puk and Martinez come off the IL. Counting on Sewald for the entire season seems a bit misguided.
Spencer: I’m going to be that guy and say all opinions are true regarding Sewald. The team can hardly complain about results going in their favor. And yet the underlying metrics don’t bode well. And there are certainly far better closers I’d want closing games for Arizona. The question is are they available to Arizona at this moment? I don’t honestly know. Morillo is intriguing, but not exactly a sure thing better option currently. Then there’s the hypothetical resurgence brought upon by Puk and JMart, but they aren’t healthy yet. And it’s not like we can just go out and somehow grab a Mason Miller or Aroldis Chapman on May 20 (unless you’re ok with mortgaging the future for a hope and a dream they keep it up in Phoenix).
Preston: Closers are always disappointing, because we magnify their failures and their successes are just what is supposed to happen. But Sewald is an interesting case. His stuff just isn’t that good. Spencer is right about his underlying metrics, but they aren’t that much worse than they were in 2023. Sewald sometimes succeeds despite subpar stuff (and it definitely is; his pitches are well below average for both velocity and movement, and his extension is likewise below average). He can make it work if he’s locating everything well. When he doesn’t, he gets hit hard.
Velocity and/or movement isn’t everything, or Blake Cederlind and Ricardo Yan would be aces in the major leagues instead of struggling at the complex. Sewald will continue being what he is, and that includes being a pitcher who gives up a big hit at the worst times.
Although Morillo seems the better pitcher (my short comparison follows), the Feed had an interesting discussion of when in the game the best pitcher should make an appearance. One comment follows:
“I believe Morillo is our best reliever and I believe Sewald is still the best option to close games. Having Morillo come in as the ‘fireman’ is a very valuable position and Sewald doesn’t look like he’s lost his closing mojo just yet. Closing is about attitude as much as it is stuff, in my opinion, and Sewald has done a fine enough job flushing bad appearances and showing up ready to go the next day. I wouldn’t rock the boat unless Sewald looks broken a couple in a row.” –1 AZfan1
Morillo vs Sewald:
1HR/73BF vs 3HR/61BF
12 Shutdowns vs 7 Shutdowns
1.94 xFIP vs 4.18 xFIP
75% GTJD vs 83% GTJD both great but Morillo overcame 7 games out of 20 with inherited runners
Dano: Like Spencer, but more succinctly, I will answer the question with “Yes.” Sewald currently enjoys a 90% save success rate, which as I noted elsewhere this week is a rate that lots of other teams would kill for. That said, someone else should definitely be our closer, should the right someone else be there and available to pitch in save situations. But until AJ Puk and/or JMart return from their various types of arm-reattachment surgery and demonstrate that they have their old mojo back, I think Paul’s the best we’ve got, and his success rate so far demonstrates that. I mean, that’s exactly what we signed Sewald to do: to be our bridge closer while the folks we’d like and expect to occupy that role have recovered sufficiently from their injuries to take up the closer mantle again.
Ben: We’d definitely be better off with a different closer once one is available. Sewald has been better this year than in years past with a WHIP under one and a strikeout rate in the top 10% of the league. But he’s still allowing a ton of hard contact (44%) and has turned into a flyball pitcher which isn’t a great combination for a closer or high-leverage reliever. At the same time, it’s hard to argue with the results that are already baked into the season and there aren’t a ton of other options available until Puk or Martinez work their way back from their respective injuries.
James: If he gets results, let the man pitch. But, Paul Sewald’s stuff is so incredibly mediocre that every single time he enters a game, the leash should be a short one. Sewald is on the raggedy edge of his career being done. If he loses any further velocity, or if he stops getting away with meatballs because the movement edges back even more, he’s going to be lit up like the Rockerfeller Christmas tree. Once the likes of Justin Martinez and A.J. Puk return, I would be far more comfortable with Sewald in the setup role. Until then, let Sewald keep trying his luck, but keep Morillo around to replace Sewald in the role at the first sign of continued slipping, signs that are inevitable given Father Time’s record.
The competitive balance threshold for 2026 is set at $244 million and according to Steve Gilbert, the team is just “around $5-$10 million away from that threshold”. How is it possible that we field such a mediocre team with those amounts of money invested?
Wesley: That’s just what happened when your expensive free agent pitching acquisitions end up on the injured list
Spencer: Easily. We have many millions of dollars resting on the IL. Plus we paid LA-inflated market rates for sub-optimal production in Gallen and Kelly (Kelly might just be changing that around though). And unfortunately for Arizona and Kendrick’s pocketbook, I believe the competitive balance threshold views all contracts on AAV instead of actual dollars spent so the likes of Pfaadt, Carroll and Perdomo “cost” the team more in that calculation than they do in reality. I’ll be first in line to question Hazen’s comment that removing Thomas’ arbitration salary gives him some leeway at the deadline though…. If that’s actually true, this business is already over the cliff’s edge, adrenaline-fueled slow motion staring back at solid ground unaware that free fall is imminent.
Preston: Spencer hits the nail on the head, although I’ll say that a player making $10 million on the year is only going to count for about $3 million at the deadline. But the bigger issue is systemic, and ties into the following question. Pitching is expensive. Zac Gallen is no longer a good pitcher, but that’s the kind of pitcher that $18 million gets you on the market. $30 million a year gets you basically the top position player at a given position; $30 million a year in pitching gets you a borderline ace, not even a top-ten guy. And the Diamondbacks have essentially five free agent starting pitchers on that roster (counting Gallen in addition to Kelly, E-Rod, Burnes, and Soroka.)
Makakilo: Cash payroll and luxury tax payroll (which is calculated based on more than one season) can be different. [side note $47 Million on injured player contracts]. Spotrac provided the following for the Diamondbacks:
$186.7 Million, projected cash payroll
$229.9 Million, projected luxury tax payroll
$244.0 Million, luxury tax threshold
Dano: Again, I will echo Spencer: Easily, for pretty much the reasons he stated. More broadly, we have a lot of money tied up in a lot of contracts that were signed at different points for different situational reasons at the point those contracts were signed. The fact that so much of that money is tied up in players languishing on the IL strikes me as back luck and bad timing as much as anything. I feel like this question implies some direct causal correlation between the decisions the franchise made to offer these contracts and where we find ourselves at this particular moment as we consider the arbitrary figure of the CBT threshold, when there is no direct causal relationship.
Ben: There are a lot of reasons, plenty of which have been brought up already, but it also doesn’t help when the team has ~$6.5 million tied up in either dead contracts like Joe Ross who was released and five million to Madison Bumgarner who hasn’t played in three years. There are quibbles to be had on players like Gurriel or Pfaadt, neither of whose contracts have aged well to this point, but that’s the risk in extending players.
James: The others have pretty much already answered this one fairly thoroughly. I think this situation also reinforces the need for the team to start getting good looks at the likes of their top prospects. The fewer holes that need to be filled via free agency, the better they can allocate funds to improving the roster. Needing to buy three starters and some bullpen help, in addition to having holes on the field put Arizona in a terrible position this last winter. Hopefully, the arrival of Arnado for two years and the impending promotions will help to sort some of the payroll chaos moving forward. Of course, the team is still going to be sending high for a bit longer as they are still going to need to replace some pitching in the upcoming offseason. Arizona really needs Burns to return as his old self and for one of their starter prospects to make the grade by the end of the season.
Mike Hazen took the helm in 2017. 9 years later…why haven’t the Diamondbacks been able to deliver some strong home grown starting pitching?
Wesley: Our minor league pitching development staff sucks and the high offense environments of three out of four minor league affiliates isn’t exactly conducive to developing effective pitching. The Dbacks also seem to really struggle at identifying amateur pitching talent to sign in the first place. When they do find above average talent, it seems like they have gotten unlucky with health, which has just compounded matters even further. As noted further down, Jeremy Bleich is trying to change that, but I am not exactly confident that he will be able to succeed.
Spencer: We’ve got Nelson and Pfaadt! lol. If I had the real answer, I’d be a marginally more wealthy individual and live back in Phoenix rather than the limp noodle of a state Ohio. While I truly believe development change is the hardest and slowest aspect of a baseball franchise to change, I’d be remiss if I didn’t admit disappointment in our pitching pipeline a decade removed from Hazen’s start. Jameson was derailed by injuries, which happen but can’t be completely forgiven, especially given the way he was used. A lot of blame should be given to avoiding arms at the top of the draft, but then you have the Chad Patrick’s of the world (2021 4th round pick). Of course that brings up the idea of trading away potential for nothing. And that brings us back to the question at hand: do you believe Patrick develops into an MLB caliber starting pitcher if Arizona heads his development rather than Oakland and Milwaukee? I don’t have a solid opinion there…
My biggest question as a fan is why we’ve avoided first, second and sandwich round draft selections on pitching. In 2019, we did take some and the closest thing to successes Hazen has had stem from those picks. Stuff matters. Stuff goes early (or slightly later with big bonus money).
Preston: Pitching development is one of the hardest things to do. Brennan Malone isn’t the only pitcher taking in the top rounds to completely bust. Of first round picks in 2019, Drey Jameson is the fourth-best pitcher by bWAR, and one of the three ahead of him is Alek Manoah, who had one good season, one great season, and has been below replacement level ever since. Bryce Jarvis is also the fourth-best pitcher from the first round in 2020. The Diamondbacks are not alone in struggling with it. And there are some remarkable successes as well. Yilber Diaz and Christian Montes De Oca were bargain international signings with no expectations.
Hazen knows the issue, though, which is why he hired Jeremy Bleich from the Pirates. It’s going to take time before we see real results, but I was encouraged by the overhaul of Brian Curley’s mechanics before the season (although Curley has started to fall into some bad habits as time has passed) and the resurgence of Diaz could have something to do with Bleich as well. Unfortunately, it’ll take a few years before it really shows fruit; Carmen Mlodzinski and Jared Jones were both taken in 2020 and the Diamondbacks will be drafting too late to have a shot at a top arm like Paul Skenes. It’s heartening to see the organization try to fix this, at least.
Dano: Because Mike Hazen’s skill set is not developing minor league pitching, and he can’t and doesn’t control much of anything about how our minor league teams and coaching staffs go about their business, which is probably for the best because he likely wouldn’t be very skilled at any of that. That of course is why that stuff isn’t his job, except in the broadest big picture sense.. I mean, if someone really wants to blame Hazen for this, I suppose one can–he’s certainly involved in the MLB draft every year, which is supposed to provide the raw materials for our minor league player development machine, and GIGO has been a valid acronym for years for obvious reasons. But the connection between our dismal performance developing pitchers down on the farm and Mike Hazen’s tenure as General Manager of the entire franchise seems to me to be tenuous at best.
James: The number of impact pitchers falling below the top-10 picks in the draft is decreasing at an alarming rate. Yes, Arizona has had a few high draft picks in Hazne’s tenure. While there were some intriguing arms still available when Arizona selected Jordan Lawlar, only Andrew Painter and Gavin Williams have come good yet and Williams was selected as part of the third tier of first round talent in the draft. Even the two pitchers that were selected ahead of Lawlar have yet to come good. Outside of those two seasons, the impact pitching hasn’t really been available. Once you combine a lack of quality arms available to draft with an already suspect developmental pipeline for arms, there are going to be issues. Hopefully, some of the arms that are on the verge of debuting will help to turn that narrative around some more, building off the relative successes of Pfraadt and Nelson.
Except for a possible monster like Loch Ness, I always found peace in the fact that UFO sightings and movies with aliens were taking place in the USA. However, “interesting material”, according to president Trump, was released by the Pentagon and it shows sightings take place all over the world. Maybe the aliens are still checking where to land. Where will they eventually land, why there and will they come in peace?
Wesley: I’d just avoid Earth entirely at this point. In all seriousness, it’d be a disservice to distill my very complex and nuanced views on the subject down to a paragraph, so I won’t!
Makakilo: Where they land likely depends on three things:
What makes their time meaningful? Possibilities include learning about the history of earth, influencing global leaders, guiding technology development, and creating progeny.
Where are they safe? Humans are possibly the most violent creatures to ever exist, and human diseases are commonplace.
Where are they comfortable? Their alien bodies likely have a comfortable climate and environment.
Dano: Maybe it’s just that I’m taking a dimmish view of the world and what goes on in it these days, for various reasons, but I’d guess that if they have any sense they’ll just keep going.
James: They land on the Moon and grab whatever their equivalent of popcorn is to watch this world find more and more ways to screw up even easy things.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 10: Michael Siani #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers participates in a fielding drill prior to a Spring Training game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Camelback Ranch on March 10, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The many travels of Michael Siani continued on Monday, with the outfielder claimed by the Baltimore Orioles off waivers from the Dodgers. He’ll start off with his new organization in Triple-A Norfolk.
In 29 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City this season, the 26-year-old Siani hit .225/.355/.303 with an 83 wRC+, 17 walks, five doubles, a triple, and five stolen bases. He started 21 games in center field and five more in left field for the Comets.
Siani played in the majors in parts of each of the previous four years (2022-25) with the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals, and finished last season with St. Louis. Then, his journey really began:
The New York Yankees claimed Siani off waivers on January 23, but designated him for assignment five days later. The Dodgers swooped back in with a waiver claim on February 3, which meant saying goodbye to Andy Ibáñez. Siani played in 16 games during spring training, including eight starts in center field, before getting optioned on March 16.
